Abstract: A method of rolling an elongated workpiece in the form of a sheet or strip and of reducing edge drop during rolling comprising passing the workpiece through at least one pair of opposed work rolls which comprise an arbor and a hollow sleeve shrink-fitted over the arbor and having end portions defining, between the arbor and sleeve, a cavity providing a self-compensating flexible roll end portion which is placed over and extends beyond a longitudinal edge of the workpiece during rolling. Preferably, the shrink-fitted portion is provided with maximum radial stress at the middle thereof and decreasing toward the ends of the shrink-fitted zone. The work rolls may be backed up with self-compensating backup rolls to further improve uniformity of the rolled workpiece by reducing crown variation thereof. Positioning of the rolls is accomplished by axial shifting.

Abstract: One or more spray bars having a plurality of spray nozzles for cooling a rolling mill roll are provided with an apparatus to cause at least one spray bar to undergo a translational, rotational, and/or pivotal movement sufficient to change the spray-angle and/or spray-distance affected by nozzles thereon to thereby control the cooling rate effected by the nozzles so moved. The spray bar can be automatically controlled by providing a means for monitoring the roll condition and/or workpiece condition and means responsive thereto for moving the spray bar as necessary to change and adjust individual cooling rates effected by the nozzles and correct for any undesired result so monitored. A unique spray bar has nozzles arranged in a curved alignment so that each effects a different spray-angle and/or spray-distance. Like apparatus and comparable methods can be utilized to cool a hot rolled product.

Abstract: A chockless work roll support and positioning apparatus and method comprises a pair of brackets for each end of each work roll and having a pair of work roll support rollers rotatably mounted on each bracket. Each bracket is connected to at least one actuator means, such as a hydraulic piston/cylinder assembly, preferably one actuator means for each support roller. The actuator means are actuated through a servovalve, by position or pressure signals to position the support rollers at desired positions and to exert a desired pressure between the respective support rollers and the corresponding work rolls. By such signal control, the work rolls may be balanced, bent in the upstream or downstream horizontal direction, upwardly or downwardly, or may be placed in offset or cross-rolling position.

Abstract: A composite table roll for use in roll tables in metal rolling mills, particularly for handling hot metal workpieces, having a sleeve portion which is tightly secured to an underlying arbor only at the axial mid-portion so that the end-portions of the sleeve are not in contact with the arbor sufficient to cause any significant heat conductivity thereacross and the end-portions are free to thermally expand with reference to the arbor to thereby greatly minimize any thermal distortion of the arbor in the event a hot metal workpiece becomes stalled on the roll table.

Abstract: A sleeved roll generally has a bendable arbor. The sleeve is shrunk-fit on the arbor such that the dimensional difference between the arbor diameter and the sleeve inner diameter varies along the arbor axis. Thus the radial stresses induced by the shrunk-fit vary along the axis of the arbor.The sleeved bendable roll may be employed as a work roll or as a backup roll in a rolling mill.The roll is assembled by providing a bendable arbor having an axial surface and a hollow sleeve, axially contouring at least a portion of the arbor surface or the sleeve inner surface, positioning the hollow sleeve having an inner surface adjacent the arbor, and then shrink-fitting the sleeve inner surface on the axially convexly contoured surface of the arbor.

Abstract: A sizing press has a pair of opposed rotatably supported pressing tools for reducing the width of a flat metal slab. Piston cylinder assemblies rotatably oscillate the pressing tools relative to each other. Each pressing tool has first and second slab-contacting surfaces which extend in different planes. The invented method of this invention includes the steps of moving the pressing tools toward each other against the sides of a metal workpiece and reducing the width of an initial workpiece length. Thereafter, rotating the pressing tools to further reduce the width of only a portion of the initial workpiece length and to reduce the width of an adjacent workpiece length.

Abstract: A multistand tandem strip rolling mill and associated method wherein effective control of gauge and shape are provided. Shape monitoring sensors may be provided adjacent to a first mill stand and adjacent to a downstream mill stand in order to provide feedback-feedforward information regarding strip shape and gauge to controller units which when a predetermined shape has not been achieved issues a control signal to adjust the actuators. A computer preferably has stored information regarding the desired shape and gauge effects a comparison between the signals received from the shape and gauge sensors.Gauge sensors may be provided adjacent to the shape sensors. The mill stands preferably have roll bending cylinders positioned by roll bending system servo-valves which are actuated by signals from the controller.

Abstract: An arrangement for winding material onto a coiler drum along a passline of a hot reversing mill comprising an apparatus having two pivotal arms mounted on a common shaft and movable in a different arcuate path toward and away from the coiler drum. Rollers at the end of the arms tightly enwrap the material around the drum when the arms are positioned against the drum as the material is being underwound onto the drum. The roller of one of the arms may act as a deflector roller when positioned away from the drum as the material is being overwound onto the drum. The other arm consists of two wrapper rollers on a pivotal mounting for their proper orientation around the drum and for flat passes of the material through the mill. This other arm is positioned away from the drum below the passline to allow a retractable table roll assembly consisting of a plurality of table rolls to be positioned in the passline for supporting the material.

Abstract: A control for a press for controlling the flow of fluid to two hydraulic actuators which applies a desired working force to or which positions the press platen in a desired position including a sub-control for introducing first and second super-imposed oscillations on the fluid of the actuators of equal amplitude and opposite phase to reduce internal friction in the actuators without disturbing the desired applied force or position of the platen.

Abstract: A rolling mill has a pair of cooperating work rolls with first and second chock pairs associated with each work roll. At least one work roll is rocked in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the work roll during operation of the rolling mill to enhance shear rolling and create regions of irregular thickness in the workpiece. This reduces friction between the work rolls and the workpiece in subsequent rolling thereby permitting greater lateral spread of the workpiece. The rocking may be effected in a generally vertical direction by a pair of cylinders secured to a pair of chocks or may be effected in a generally horizontal direction which may be that of the path of flow of the workpiece through the rolling mill by pairs of cylinders associated with each work roll or may involve rocking in both directions.

Abstract: A metal workpiece such as a slab is rolled into a desired width without requiring broadsiding. The system generally involves reducing a first portion along the width of the workpiece to a first thickness while creating a second portion along the width of the workpiece having a thickness greater than the first portion thickness and having a predetermined mass. Subsequently the second portion is reduced to establish a predetermined increase in the width of the workpiece and a decrease in the thickness of the workpiece to obtain a substantially uniform thickness along substantially the entire width of the workpiece. A preferred approach includes providing a pair of cooperating work rolls at least one of which has a generally cylindrical portion and at least one adjacent tapered portion. Initial reduction is effected by employing a pair of cooperating cylindrical central portions and at least one tapered portion. This provides a workpiece with a reduced portion and an enlarged portion.

Abstract: A self-compensating roll for rolling various width strip-like material wherein the roll is subject to non-uniform rolling load distribution between its opposite ends during rolling. The roll comprises a cylindrical roll body and outer material contacting surface. Outwardly extending displaceable members are formed beneath the contacting surface in the roll body at the opposed ends of the roll which permit the outer contacting surface areas to be displaced in a direction away from the direction the axial portion of the roll body deflects under a given load.

Abstract: A rolling mill arrangement having at least one roll carrying a sleeve forming a cavity with the roll body near the two opposed ends of the roll. Pressurized fluid is regulated in these cavities to counteract "edge drop" which occurs at the edges of a product under the conventional procedures for controlling the mill for effecting control of the edge thickness of the strip when reducing the product along its width.

Abstract: A rolling mill strip tension monitoring assembly has a roll supporting structure which supports a plurality of pivotally mounted rolls. A sensor support is movably secured to the roll supporting means such that movement of the rolls other than axial rotational movement will effect a change in relative position between the noncontacting sensor array and the roll support. Sensors may consist of one or more elongated transducer array which may be of the induction type. Apparatus for comparing the position of a rolls with an adjacent roll may be employed. Apparatus for processing the signals.

Abstract: A thermally insulating block array is partially covered by thermal conducting sheets so as to enhance re-radiation of heat losses from a heated product in order to facilitate effective temprature control. The thermal conducting sheets preferably cover the face of the thermal insulating blocks which face the heated product and preferably cover the lateral surfaces of the blocks and portions of the rear surface to resist direct exposure of the thermal insulating block to the heated product.

Abstract: A rolling mill strip tension controlling apparatus may also function as a looper roll and shape meter and is provided with a plurality of generally aligned axially rotatable strip contacting rolls which are supported on rotating arms which in turn are rotated by actuators such as hydraulic cylinders. By monitoring actuator pressure and position a difference between the actual values for position or pressure and the predetermined values is used to provide through a servomechanism suitable corrective action on an individual roll by roll basis. A switch may be provided to permit the system to provide information from a computer to the servo system in a position mode or a pressure mode. The measured values may take the form of oscillations with respect to a predetermined base value.

Abstract: A shearing apparatus for performing several modes of operation on travelling or stationary material. Two cooperative knife drums, which can be rendered rotatable or non-rotatable, form a gap whose spacing is varied by hydraulic piston cylinder assemblies, one mounted on opposed ends of the upper or bottom drum. The adjustable knife drum is held in a parallel or non-parallel positioning or caused to rock with or without additional high frequency oscillations by controlling and regulating the pressure in the cylinders, while simultaneously moving the upper drum towards the lower drum and/or rotating both drums.

Abstract: A refractory block design for re-radiating a substantial amount of heat losses back to a heated product thereby substantially maintaining its required temperature. A relatively thin sheet of stainless steel, i.e. the ratio of the thickness of the sheet being approximately 1/500th of the thickness of the heated product, is wrapped in a sinuous manner around one side of a refractory fiber block arranged in a similar sinuous manner to tightly fit into the folds of the block for storing heat, and radiating heat back to the heated product when thermal equilibrium therebetween is reached.